A settled committee approach is beginning to establish itself in Arizona while they wait for Jeremiyah Love to heal up. Most notably, this mean Zonovan Knight is getting some meaty, volume carries.
Here’s how I’m handling this backfield in Week 7.
Tyler Allgeier or Bam Knight Start or Sit Advice: Week 7
I’d start Knight over Allgeier in a 12-team PPR league. Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur used Allgeier on 26 early-down plays and Knight on 23 in single-back sets against the Rams, splitting their short-yardage work three snaps apiece. Knight already has enough rushing work to exploit Denver’s tackling problems.
Knight finished 33 rushing yards above expectation (+33 RYOE) last week, while Allgeier fell 22 yards below expectation (-22 RYOE) in the same tracking model. Knight also forced two missed tackles on 15 carries, compared with Allgeier’s one on 18. Arizona’s damaged line made running difficult, but Knight found yards Allgeier couldn’t squeeze out of his opportunities.
Knight collected five high-value touches—two receptions and three carries inside the 10-yard line—to Allgeier’s three. Allgeier played eight more snaps, yet Knight got more of the catches and close-range carries that can quickly swell a fantasy score. LaFleur also split the goal-line work one snap apiece.
Denver’s defenders have allowed the most yards after contact per attempt and missed tackles at the highest rate through six weeks, while conceding the sixth-highest explosive run rate. Knight’s patience setting up cutbacks and ability to run through glancing contact give him ways to exploit those failures. After rushing for 80 yards against Los Angeles, he gets another defense vulnerable once a runner slips the first tackle.
Allgeier still has the stronger passing-down role. He ran routes on 48.6% of Arizona’s dropbacks against the Rams, compared with Knight’s 28.6%, and took all four two-minute snaps. LaFleur can favor Allgeier’s pass protection if Arizona falls behind, reducing Knight’s rushing chances without giving him enough targets to compensate.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett looked for Allgeier only once last week, however, while targeting Knight twice. Allgeier needs more throws to turn his route advantage into dependable PPR scoring.
Both backs will run behind another replacement guard. Hayden Conner takes over for injured starter Jon Gaines II, and Denver just battered Seattle with five sacks and 17 quarterback hits. Arizona reached the red zone five times against the Rams without scoring a touchdown. Managers should expect shared work in an offense still struggling to finish drives.
Fantasy Outlook for Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight in Week 7
Knight is my preferred RB3/FLEX, with a projection of 12–15 carries and one or two receptions. Allgeier remains a deeper FLEX, helped by his passing-down snaps but vulnerable to another inefficient rushing afternoon.
I’d accept Knight’s smaller route share here. He nearly matched Allgeier’s early-down work, led him in high-value touches and ran substantially better against Los Angeles. Against Denver’s poor tackling, I’d start Knight and leave Allgeier on the bench.
